Questions arise over donation to wrestling program

A $7,000 donation toward the Newport High School wrestling program went into the school remodeling project, according to the district's building and grounds director.

Whether that means the funds went toward the remodeled wrestling room is unclear, but residents in attendance at an Oct. 21 school board meeting were not happy to learn from Nick Soccio what has long been debated.

"Give the money back to the donor or to the wrestling program," one resident told the school board.

Superintendent Dr. Kerry Helm insists the money donated by Clyde Cressler, owner of The Medicine Shoppe pharmacy in Howe Twp. and 14 others, was used toward the wrestling program.

"The money was given toward the program. It should be in one of the accounts," Helm said.

However, since the district can't document how the money was spent, coach Mike Capozzoli said it would be hard to ask for future donations. Capozzoli estimates Cressler has given around $100,000 to the program since he has been coach.

"Before, there was never any answer. Now there is an answer and it makes me wonder," Capozzoli said.

Recently, Cressler donated $13,000, $6,000 of which was used toward three scoreboards — one in the gym and two others on the field hockey field.

At the meeting, Capozzoli said he and Soccio drew up the plans for the wrestling room and went to prominent businessmen like Cressler and Steve Peters of Stephen F. Peters Masonry, Newport. In total, the district received approximately $18,000 from other donors, according to Soccio.

Cressler said he received a receipt for the $6,000 donation, but never received any documentation for the other $7,000 donation, despite having asked for one.

Capozzoli told the board and residents that he spent approximately $695 on an LCD projector for the room.

Soccio said the scoreboards cost $12,000, while the $6,000 from Cressler bought the additional field hockey board. The other $7,000 went to the project, precisely for what remains unclear, although the wrestling room was renovated.

Cressler is a 1958 graduate of the high school. He said the dispute about the money isn't going to stop him from donating in the future.

"My four siblings and I are successes ... and we owe it to that school," Cressler said. "If they were going to stop the wrestling program tomorrow because of money ... I'd finance the thing by myself.'